diff --git a/terminatorlib/container.py b/terminatorlib/container.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a2b58b85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terminatorlib/container.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# Terminator by Chris Jones <cmsj@tenshu.net>
+# GPL v2 only
+"""container.py - classes necessary to contain Terminal widgets"""
+
+import gtk
+
+from version import APP_NAME, APP_VERSION
+from util import debug, dbg, err
+
+try:
+    import deskbar.core.keybinder as bindkey
+except ImportError:
+    err('Unable to find python bindings for deskbar, "hide_window" is not' \
+            'available.')
+
+class Container:
+    """Base class for Terminator Containers"""
+
+    immutable = None
+    children = None
+    config = None
+
+    def __init__(self, configobject):
+        """Class initialiser"""
+        self.children = []
+        self.config = configobject
+
+    def get_offspring(self):
+        """Return a list of child widgets, if any"""
+        return(self.children)
+
+class Window(Container, gtk.Window):
+    """Class implementing a top-level Terminator window"""
+
+    title = None
+    isfullscreen = None
+
+    def __init__(self, configobject):
+        """Class initialiser"""
+        Container.__init__(self, configobject)
+        gtk.Window.__init__(self)
+
+        self.set_property('allow-shrink', True)
+        self.register_callbacks()
+        self.apply_config()
+
+    def register_callbacks(self):
+        """Connect the GTK+ signals we care about"""
+        self.connect('key-press-event', self.on_key_press)
+        self.connect('delete_event', self.on_delete_event)
+        self.connect('destroy', self.on_destroy_event)
+        self.connect('window-state-event', self.on_window_state_changed)
+
+        try:
+            bindkey.tomboy_keybinder_bind(
+                self.config['keybindings']['hide_window'],
+                self.on_hide_window)
+        except KeyError:
+            dbg('Unable to bind hide_window key, another instance has it.')
+
+    def apply_config(self):
+        """Apply various configuration options"""
+        self.set_fullscreen(self.config['fullscreen'])
+        self.set_maximised(self.config['maximised'])
+        self.set_borderless(self.config['borderless'])
+        self.enable_rgba(self.config['enable_real_transparency'])
+        self.set_hidden(self.config['hidden'])
+
+    def on_key_press(self, window, event):
+        pass
+
+    def on_delete_event(self):
+        pass
+
+    def on_destroy_event(self):
+        pass
+
+    def on_window_state_changed(self):
+        pass
+
+    def set_fullscreen(self, value):
+        pass
+
+CONFIG = {}
+WINDOW = Window(CONFIG)
+gtk.main()
diff --git a/terminatorlib/util.py b/terminatorlib/util.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..5031e750
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terminatorlib/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+#    TerminatorConfig - layered config classes
+#    Copyright (C) 2006-2008  cmsj@tenshu.net
+#
+#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+#  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+#  the Free Software Foundation, version 2 only.
+#
+#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+#  GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+#  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
+
+import sys
+
+# set this to true to enable debugging output
+debug = False
+
+def dbg (log = ""):
+  """Print a message if debugging is enabled"""
+  if debug:
+    print >> sys.stderr, log
+
+def err (log = ""):
+  """Print an error message"""
+  print >> sys.stderr, log